Written by Patrick Balfe
Keisuke Mishina founded Handsome Shokudō in 2001, transforming Willow Alley’s atmosphere and redefining its identity. At the time, the alley was home to aging snack bars and drinking establishments, stigmatized as part of a former blue-line district. Families and locals largely avoided the area, but Handsome Shokudō’s inviting aromas drew a younger crowd eager for refined cuisine.
Handsome Shokudō offers a menu of flavorful dishes such as refreshing spring rolls, pad thai, and its signature charcoal-grilled chicken gai yang, glazed with a sweet and spicy green onion sauce. This shift from alcohol-focused venues to dining-centric spaces fostered a more open and inclusive vibe, appealing to solo diners and younger patrons.
- 17 m from Nishi-ogikubo Station Chūō Line (Rapid) (JC10)Chūō-Sōbu Line (JB37)
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